WAY FAR AWAY ON A WILD SAFARI
by Jan Peck & illustrated by Valeria Petrone
A round-eyed inquisitive little boy bravely takes a safari trip in search of a wild lion. Along the way he spies a spraying elephant, tall giraffe, slushing hippopotamus, zigzagging zebra, charging rhinoceros, spying gorilla, snorting wildebeest, laughing hyena and dancing ostrich, all with similar round eyes and friendly faces. When an amicable, yet roaring lion, appears on his final encounter, it is time to say good-bye to his previous sightings and return to the safety of grandma’s kitchen and her freshly baked animal cookies. Digitally rendered large cartoon-style paintings in bold, bright colors against dark green and mustard yellow backgrounds reflect the playful imaginative scenario described in the repetitive patterned text. Preschoolers and emerging readers will enjoy picking up their binoculars for a far away wild safari search. (Picture book. 3-6)